My Heart Goes Out

 Photo: AFP/Getty Images via CNN

I feel so blessed to have people I can call friends from all around the world.  And my children are also motivated to make connections with people from faraway lands and to experience different cultures.

So this morning when my daughter came in to our office with tears in her eyes I was afraid she was in pain from her recent surgery.  She quickly explained that she feared for the life of one of her friends who was staying with her father at their home in Chile. 

I had been busy working on assignments and hadn't even looked at the news for days so she had to bring me up to speed on the devastating earthquake in Chile that has affected so many!  Right on the heels of the destruction in Haiti, it seems almost surreal that another major earthquake could hit so soon in a different part of the world.  I know in geological terms it's not unusual for one earthquake to be followed by a succession of other earthquakes in following months, but it's almost hard to fathom!

It turns out that our daughter's friend is safe and in South Africa at the moment, and her father is fine back in Chile.  She was also able to reach another friend in Argentina that reported all was well with she and her family too.  Thank goodness for the internet and being able to reach friends and loved ones to know they are safe!

So tonight, my thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the earthquake and those in the path of danger from potential tsunamis, which although a diminished threat now, must have been frightening to say the least.

My prayers also extend to the dedicated workers who, even though exhausted I'm sure from their service in Haiti, will once again heed the call to help others in need!  Godspeed to them as they journey to the areas affected by the earthquake!